Thu
Sep 11 2008
11:08 pm
By: Brian A.

I was surprised to read this:

"Knoxville has been out of gas since Monday. We've been buying gas from Atlanta, North Carolina, Kentucky, anywhere we can get it," said Bill Weigel, head of the Weigel's chain of convenience stores in Knox, Blount, Sevier, Loudon, Anderson and Monroe counties.

Weigel said about a half-dozen Weigel's stores are out of gas and he fears that number will grow as gasoline shipments from Louisiana and Texas refineries through a network of pipelines are disrupted.

Per Twitter, folks are reporting a shortage in Chattanooga, too.

Whatever the case, prices are jumping upward, thanks Ike-related oil industry shutdowns.

UPDATE: More details in the KNS. Reportedly, Pilot stores have inventory to last into next week, but things could get dicey Monday or Tuesday if a shipment gets delayed.

Kudzu's picture

Try Sam's

I filled up at Sam's Club at mid-afternoon Thursday and there was a gas tanker making a delivery there at the time. The price was $3.769 for premium, which would make regular $3.569 (with Sam's membership). For what it's worth.

bizgrrl's picture

Filled up at a local Texaco

Filled up at a local Texaco in Alcoa and a gas tanker was there making a delivery.

Anonymous's picture

Filled up at Weigel's on

Filled up at Weigel's on Cherry at I-40 this morning, premium was $3.77/gal. No bags.

Mr. McBeavy's picture

Hallerin Haslam Hill

Hallerin Haslam Hill certainly didn't help things this morning with his broadcast and talking of a gas shortage.

Brian A.'s picture

If everyone on the Internets

If everyone on the Internets and talk radio works together, we can all help create panic buying.

Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.

Justin's picture

I'm going to start a rumor

I'm going to start a rumor that milk and bread are in short supply. What will the children eat? :)

twowheeler's picture

That is the perfect

That is the perfect response! We are a bunch of sheep and will follow the loudest voice.

John Hawbaker's picture

Chattanooga Gas Panic

I followed the gas panic in Chattanooga last night via Twitter, and it seems to be mostly hype. A few gas stations were asking for voluntary rationing and there were long lines, but this morning we're only hearing isolated reports of higher prices. We posted a story about the Chattanooga gas panic on Chattarati at (link...)

bizgrrl's picture

In Florida, a chain is

In Florida, a chain is asking their customers to limit purchases to 10 gallons.

I'm running out right now to fill up our other car. Then, I'm calling my Mom to fill up hers. Aaaahhhh!

Brian A.'s picture

Price now reported @

Price now reported @ $3.99/gallon at a number of stations.


Knoxville Gas Prices
.

Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.

Opinari's picture

In Texas

Here in Texas, gas prices have spiked, less as you move north inland. Houston is reporting $1 spikes in prices, but then Houston traffic is being routed northward and major highways are being closed coming inward, so the limitation in the supply chain is bound to increase the cost. Prices went up nominally in my area of Texas ($3.59 from $3.49 this morning, on average). But NYMEX shows gasoline at $2.78 as of 8:30 this morning. I haven't seen what commodity prices are doing in the markets today, but almost certainly, prices will fall once Ike finally dissipates.

Thag13's picture

There seems to be a lot of

There seems to be a lot of panic buying here in Oak Ridge/Oliver Springs

The Racetrak on Pellisippi had no gas at 9:45 today.

The Gas station right by my house has sold out. The station just a few hundred yards down seems to be ok. Prices have spiked to 3.99to 4.19 a gallon.

I told my daughter at MTSU to stay on campus this weekend. I just didnt want her out on the interstate this weekend. No Matter Where you go, There you Are!!!!

Carole Borges's picture

Gas jumped from $3.69-3.99 just while I was shopping!

I bought gas at the Shell station on Whittle Springs at Edgewood for $3.69. I remarked abut the increaee and the cashier told me she expected gas to climb to $5.00 a galloon soon. By the time I drove out to Magnolia, did a little shopping, and returned. The Weigel on Cherry St was up to $3.99.

Johnny Ringo's picture

Food City

I filled up at Food City this morning and the East Town Food City did not have regular or mid-grade available for sale.

Justin's picture

Its around $4.50+ at the

Its around $4.50+ (premium) at the stations on Lovell Road. To many sheeple running to the pumps. Regular was sold out at one of the stations I drove by.

redmondkr's picture

I'm low on lawn mower gas

I'm low on lawn mower gas and I was kinda lookin' for an excuse to put off mowing.


Visit us at

The Home

Tom Salter's picture

Rutledge Pike - $4.39

$4.39 unleaded regular at a Shell on Rutledge Pike ~1:15.

Up Goose Creek's picture

Undisclosed location

Well the fuel depot in my 'hood was still selling at 3.59 when I filled up this a.m.. They are always behind the times, which is good until they run out. Wish they would restrict sales to homies as a gesture of solidarity. 2 Blocks away on the highway I saw gas at 3.89, up on the hill 3.99, back down at shell the sign said 3.49. But was any available?

____________________________________
"Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse."

Rigsby Werner's picture

US Attorney needs to investigate local pricing practices

A number of wholesales were found guilty of price fixing in Upper East Tennessee in the late 80s and early 90s.

In my opinion, the US Attorney in Washington needs to investigate the Pilot/Weigels pricing practices and see why their pricing seems to mirror each other's stores and prices increase a dollar a gallon overnight and the prices change during the day from time to time.

We are a small town, with very little competition when it comes to our fuel sources and our local investigators can't put a local political crook in a bag, can you imagine what a big corporation can get away with in this town?

Bill Lyons's picture

Wholesale gas prices, not world oil markets control this.

Wholesale gas prices, not world oil markets control this. This stuff about local “price fixing” etc. comes up regularly here and elsewhere. Of course the prices are up all over the region and one would have to have a might tight conspiracy to pull this off, - probably multiple hundreds of local independent retailers all meeting or emailing or somehow agreeing to keep prices up, and at what level. Lots of folks would be in violation of some very serious laws, threatening their own reputations and resources and personal freedom as well as that of the companies. Just think, anyone could forego fighting it out with rest and just buy the gas and sell all they could ever want at 25 cents under the market.

Or, possibly, to revert to Occam and his razor once again, the best explanation might be the most simple. Retailers prices reflect what they have to pay wholesalers. Gas may be available, but only available right now at the wholesale price, which is up drastically (see below).

(link...)

….“Wholesale gasoline prices on the Gulf Coast moved further into uncharted territory Friday, as refineries anticipated that Ike would lead to at least a significant pause in their operations, and at worst damage to their facilities. On Thursday, the Gulf Coast wholesale price of gasoline last traded at around $4.75 a gallon, according to OPIS, up substantially from about $3.25 Wednesday and less than $3 Tuesday.”

JaHu's picture

Isn't the purpose of the oil

Isn't the purpose of the oil reserves to keep the supply of fuel flowing during times of shortages and emergencies? I think it is time to tap them.

Justin's picture

As far as I know it has to

As far as I know it has to be refined. I think they just store unrefined oil.

Sandra Clark's picture

Headlines

Hey, I hear the headline tomorrow is going to be:

"Daily newspaper shortage ahead!"

Sure enough, on Monday the KNS will cost 75 cents. -- s.

JaHu's picture

Sure enough, on Monday the

Sure enough, on Monday the KNS will cost 75 cents.

And they say there isn't any good news to be found in newspapers anymore. This just means that instead of saving 50 cents per paper, I am now saving 75 cents. woohoo, I'm going to be rich!!!

Tamara Shepherd's picture

Wholesale prices hit $5/gallon this aft

You may have seen this afternoon's update at KNS already:

Wholesale prices are already at $5 per gallon, a Pilot Travel Centers executive said in a statement released this afternoon...In cities such as Chicago, the price is already at more than $5 per gallon,” Alan Wright, vice presient of supply and distribution said.

(link...)

JaHu's picture

My brother was up around

My brother was up around Baltimore and DC today and he said Pilot's fuel prices were on the average 50 cents higher than all the other travel stations.

Tess's picture

No kidding. The News

No kidding.

The News Sentinel headline drove this gas crisis.

Pam Strickland's picture

At 7 p.m. the Kroger on

At 7 p.m. the Kroger on Northshore at Pellissippi had regular for $4.59.

Pam Strickland

"We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." ~Kurt Vonnegut

Up Goose Creek's picture

Gas cap

Well I went up to the highway to buy a locking gas cap and saw the prices are up to $4.49. Should I be glad S knox has caught up with the rest of the town???

The sales clerk told me he heard prices in Gatlinburg were $7.

Wanna bet tomorrow's Alabama game will be sparsely attended?

____________________________________
"Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse."

Nobody's picture

I saw Weigels Kingston Pike

I saw Weigels Kingston Pike at $5.00 today. Funny the Shell station next to it was I think about $4.50. Never saw these such prices disparsity in my life of gas stations from each other. Uusally the prices are close.

Bill Lyons's picture

Not many people pay $5 if it is $4.50 across the street

I saw Weigels Kingston Pike at $5.00 today. Funny the Shell station next to it was I think about $4.50. Never saw these such prices disparsity in my life of gas stations from each other. Uusally the prices are close.

I imagine that not many people paid $5 for what basically is a commodity for sale for 10% less across the street. I would bet that the store charging $5 had a less reliable supply source and was about out and forced to pay a lot more for replacement. Supplies are chaotic and retailers obviously are scrambling to keep from putting out the dreaded "out of gas" sign.

Factchecker's picture

Burning Gas Festival?

Went to T Head in Maryhville (typo but it looks good!) last night and coming home it looked like some kind of weird festival going at the Kroger on 411. I think regular was $3.99, but oh what a crowd! Saw the nearby Shell station raising its prices a couple hours before. After we passed K-rog coming home, noticed The Food City nearby looked out of gas, but almost all the stations on the Motor Mile had gas and were not crowded. Prices there were typically $4.59, but a few were lower.

I hope the party was fun, because they didn't save much and normalcy will soon return.

rocketsquirrel's picture

too bad Pilot is a privately

too bad Pilot is a privately owned LLC, without transparency to the public or to shareholders. It would be easier to see their quarterly profits and see just how much price gouging is actually occurring. Keep in mind that PTC, LLC is a 50 percent joint venture with Marathon Oil. That's convenient.

Knoxville prices are higher than Houston's were when Ike was coming ashore.

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